Former Indian batter Ajay Jadeja showered praise on Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi after India registered a six-wicket win in the third T20I at the Hnry Stadium, Wellington on Tuesday. Sooryavanshi, who batted at one down in the second game, was promoted to his natural opening position in the run chase of 199.
The left-handed pair gave a blistering start to the team, scoring 118 runs in the Powerplay overs, the most by a full-member ICC team. Australia held the previous record as they had scored 113-1 in the first six overs against Scotland.
The duo added 133 runs off just 43 balls as the New Zealand bowlers were taken to the cleaners. Abhishek completed his fifty off just 15 balls whereas Sooryavanshi smashed 45 runs off only 19 balls. Abhishek eventually went on to score 113 runs off 38 balls, including nine fours and 11 sixes.
“I got a feeling that the period of the game has changed. It seemed like no one would be able to play faster than Rohit Sharma. Now, when you see their numbers, you will feel whether Rohit Sharma was a player. It’s a new era and a new day,” Ajay Jadeja said on Sony Sports.
The former Indian batter noted that New Zealand could not have done anything different against the Indian openers.
“They (the bowlers) could have done only one thing today, and that was to sit down. Where were they running? They couldn’t have done anything. Whatever you did, they (Abhishek and Suryavanshi) were only doing. They were in such a mood. This can only happen at this age. They kept enjoying, and I am extremely thankful for the enjoyment they gave us,” Jadeja observed.
Abhishek and Sooryavanshi destroyed the Kiwi bowlers and Jadeja was in awe of openers’ pyrotechnics.
“When the wind blows, you wait for it to stop before you think. It happened so quickly. They reached 100 in 30 balls. Even if someone hits the first six to 10 balls, the bowler thinks the batter will get out now, or he will try something. However, when they reached 100 in five overs, the bowlers would also be enjoying this game,” he said.
The fourth T20I between India and New Zealand will be played at Eden Park, Auckland, on Friday.
